What is Unity3D? Everything you need to know

What is Unity3D used for?

Unity3D is perfect for beginners and experts who want to create 3D games and applications for desktop, mobile, web or even consoles. Some famous games made using Unity are Temple run, Pokemon Go, Lara Croft Go, Cuphead and Hearthstone.

What all do you need to know about Unity3D?

Mentioned below are the multifarious features of Unity which anyone interested must know:

• Asset Store:

  The Asset Store provides a wide collection of designs made by developers and uploaded for use of the community. It reduces time and effort needed by eliminating the need to create everything from scratch. Due to its wide user base, community support and massive library resource inclusive of videos and tutorials, amateurs begin with Unity

• Integrated development environment:

  Unity 3D is an IDE which provides all required tools and elements for development under one roof. It also makes editing and manipulation easier through its Visual Editor, as a part of the software. Its integrated and centralized nature is what makes using Unity hassle-free and faster.

Language used- Do you need to learn C#?

The ease of using C# scripting API (Application Programming Interface) makes it a preferred option to learn, for beginners. It is famous industry-wide due to its commonality with Java and C as well. It is not necessary to learn C# to use Unity but knowing it, makes it easier and gives an added advantage by increasing market value.

• Components:

  It allows both 2D and 3D development and 2D physics is handled by Box2D engine whereas, it utilizes Prefabs to build components and objects efficiently, enabling quicker scaling. It provides excellent graphics using physics-based materials, fast processing and high-resolution systems.

Why use Unity3D?

It can not only handle 3D development but has also evolved to be used as a 2D development tool. It has enabled graphical portability to lower hardware making it more diverse and enhancing its usability. Thus, the Google Play Store has a major chunk of titles developed using Unity. Even artists prefer it due to a plethora of animation tools and endless possibilities to create 2D or 3D animations.

It is great for prototyping games, Reuse of codes and editing from other projects makes the entire process smoother. Complex games can be made easily with minimum assembly. Monetizing your games and adding multiplayer capabilities becomes efficient with an array of cloud-based tools.

It is supported with a number of other tools such as Unity Ads, Unity Collaborate and Unity Analytics which aid in creating games holistically.

Also, by using the Unity’s editor tools, one can simultaneously navigate and manage inputs from mouse, game controllers and keyboards.

Disadvantages of Unity3D

As compared to its competitors like Cryengine or Unreal, Graphical capabilities are not extraordinary. It falls behind them in advanced graphics and creation on PC which maybe a requirement for big AAA studios. It can get cumbersome to use due to its multi-pronged approach. 2D games can be created more easily on Godot or Gamemaker and lighting, rendering systems are also less efficient on Unity3D. Certain features are also available only to premium users which can be a roadblock as one might miss out on using some great features.

The licensing system and tiered pricing system is also a bit complicated to understand as the program is free in the beginning but post $1,00,000 in sales, a subscription plan needs to be purchased. That being said, Unity has a flatter learning curve as it is beginner-friendly.

Is Unity3D free?

Free version of Unity3D is made available such that Unity personal can be used by developers to publish games without paying for the software, as long as they earn beneath an established threshold. Additional features, licensing plan, support and source codes are provided under a subscription model for those willing to shell out some more money.

How to Download Unity 3D?

One can download the Unity Hub which is a download manager that will provide ease of managing different versions of the software. Latest versions then can be downloaded according to your choice. Android developers must check Android SDK, NDK tools and Open JDK.

• Navigating the Interface:

  The interface includes a number of icons, windows and options such as Hierarchy- which gives a long list of Game Objects that are elements in the game; Scene- where you can manipulate the Game Objects; Asset Store; Inspector- which aids in editing; Project- that displays all the folders and files which are part of the game and lastly, the console- which helps in detecting any errors or software issues. Thus, these are some of the important options of the Unity3D interface.

What a Unity Developer should know?

A Unity3D Developer must firstly have knowledge about Unity and using the software efficiently. They must have game development experience such as creating Xbox and playstation graphics. They must be familiar with integrated game physics, coding, scripting and animation.

How long does it take to learn Unity?

It can take anywhere from three to six months to learn and master Unity3D from scratch. Having prior knowledge and coding experience of C# and Javascript can reduce the time needed to learn considerably.

• Licensing system:

  Developers can upgrade their subscription of Unity3D to pro or plus which would provide access to many features which can aid in monetizing their game and improve its performance. The pro tier is especially designed for professional game studios who require in-house support and earn more than $2,00,000 from their creations.

Conclusion

Unity3D is a holistic, multi-dimensional game engine which simplifies game development to a great extent. It is the most commonly used software for mobile development and due to an emerging gaming industry, it is gaining trust of developers. Many professional studios and starters go for Unity3D and it is probably due to being packed with features for all.